Per pale sable and gules,
three lions passant guardant
in pale per pale or
and argent armed azure.

There were several families of high standing
who by reason of their achievements have contributed much to
cultural life and activities within the Kingdom of Thomond.
There were other families, no less talented perhaps, but not
so well known, whose accomplishments need further research before
due recognition comes their way.

MacConsaidín may be considered as a
rare example of a Gaelic surname formed from a foreign Christian
name, which means "son of Constantine". Many bearers
of this name today are to be found in counties Clare and Limerick.
In the MSS. List of the early Bishops of Killaloe, Consaidin
O'Briain (1164-1194) figures as a prominent ruler of the Diocese
for some thirty years. He was the younger son of Toirdelbach
O'Briain, King of Thomond, and he did his utmost to advance
peace among the provincial rulers who were then in contention
for the High Kingship of Ireland.

Bishop Consaidin also attended a great assembly of
princes and prelates at which resolutions were passed in 1167 concerning
"The veneration of churches, the control of tribes and territories
so that women were able to traverse Ireland unaccompanied." He
may well have been accountable for this name coming into more popular
usage in later years. In any event the MacConsaidíns have since
been described as being of illustrious Dalcassian origin but are only
briefly mentioned in early Irish history and literature. James Frost
in "The History and Topography of the County of Clare" lists
several members of the family as people of property and substance in
the 17th century, who held land in the townlands of Drumadrehig, Leitrim
and Lack, near the village of Kildysart.

Manuscript of Ossianic poems
by Micheál MacConsaidín
(Click image for more details)

It is, however, in the field of scribal activity and
poetic endeavor that members of the family in latter years earned the
esteem of the people of Clare. Seamus MacConsaidín, who was also
a medical pratictioner, composed a fine lament on the death of his friend
and fellow-poet Sean de h-Ora whom he described as "a man without
deceit, of noble speech." Also a humorous conversation piece entitled
Dearbhu written about the year 1780. Domhnall MacConsaidin, another
fine Irish scholar, is remembered for his two love-poems "Maire
Beag na Gruaige Báine" (Little Mary of the Fair Hair) and
"Bean Dubh an Ghleanna" (The Dark Woman of the Valley) which
were transcribed by Doughlas de h-Ide and also received favourable comment
in his book "Love Songs of Connacht". Micheál MacConsaidin
is also known for his wide knowledge of Irish and as a first class scribe.
He copied in neat lettering a complete replica of "Cúirt
an Mhean Óiche" and Sean O'Conaills "Tuireamh na hÉireann".
He is also credited with having written down much Ossianic verse, several
local poems and romantic tales from the old Irish.